and the winner is.....

Congratulations to Leigh who is the winner of the Royal Designs Stencil Contest! She said she would like to use the Casbah Trellis Stencil in the back of her dining room built-in hutch. I hope she sends us pictures of her finished product!

Thank you to all those who entered the contest. My curtain stencil project turned out so well that I've already got another stencil project brewing in my head. Mwahaaaaa....

John Robshaw + Martyn Lawrence Bullard = Perfection.

I want to jump inside the December issue of Elle Decor. Just want to lay down with a good book on John Robshaw's block print sofa, or sip mojitos with friends in Martyn Lawrence Bullard's patio. All of it is so delicious. Indian and Moroccan inspiration--- my faves. 

Starting with Mr. Robshaw...

So that painting is his. Cool, right?. World traveler, textile designer and artist. Love everything about this space. 

Let's talk about that chair. It is sooooo sexy. Black leather, straps. It's like a manly corset. Okay, that just painted kind of a weird picture, but on the chair it works.

The shape of the headboard is fantastic. Love all the layered textiles and mix of patterns. 

Next up Mr. Bullard. Like Robshaw, his latest musings have been inspired by his travels to India, but everywhere I look, I see Moroccan tile motifs:

This is actually his fabric covering the walls and ceiling. Fabulous.

Again with the Moroccan tile motif on the floor.  The rug by his own design. Love those brass Indian lanterns.

Where do I begin? What an amazing oasis. 

PERFECTION.

I Spy Cool Art: Jill Ricci

Thanks to Pinterest, I recently spotted my new favorite artist-- Jill Ricci. If I were an artist-- this is what I would hope to conjure up. To me her art speaks of a bohemian, gypsy dreamland displayed in a way that keeps you looking for more. I love how the patterns bring continuity and order to the randomness and layers. As she puts it "I want the pieces to evoke an old wall in Morocco, a Renaissance Church, a NYC subway wall and Malibu Barbie all simultaneously existing on one canvas." I think she has accomplished just that.

I spy Circles pattern

Kinda looks like Granada pattern

Reminds me of Trellis pattern

Lovely.

Happy Custom Designed Phone Cases

I love to see what pattern and color combinations my customers put together. Here's a few fun ones that recently went out.

And I have to share my newest. I HAD to get a new one to go with the cute clutch I received for my birthday (from In Clover-- must stop by if you haven't been and you are in KC).

 Heads up! If you want to give a Happy Habitat Custom Phone Case as a holiday gift, to get regular shipping prices, you must order by December 13th. After that there will be an additional charge if you want it by Christmas. If you want to give one as a gift and let the recipient pick out the pattern and colors, you can give a gift card... and those can come quick, even via email.

Fab.com Moroccan Poufs

I wasn't sure how I first felt about the pouf. I thought it was going to be a passing fad, but I think the pouf has proved its sticking around. Here's a few reasons why I love the pouf:
They are:
   * portable- move them from room to room as needed
   * great for small spaces
   * indestructible
   * great for kids
   * easy to clean
   * Moroccan

photo

photo

photo

photo

AND if you haven't already subscribed to Fab.com, you should because they are offering Moroccan Prestige poufs at great prices. Fab.com is a new 'flash sales' site, much like One Kings Lane, or Gilt, but Fab focuses on emerging designers, and pieces that are crafted with design in mind. You have to be "invited", so here's your invitation: http://fab.com/ncmcgt. Sign up now--- because you never know what's going to show up and things go quick!

 photos

More More Moorish Tile

So clearly I can't get enough. And the world has decided that I need just a tiny bit more Moroccan Tile in my life. Enter these neutral Moorish pattern tiles found in last month's Elle Decor. Most Moorish tile is vibrant with color, but these are a great alternative if you can't figure out how to make the reversible backslash thing to work. How could you not like these!?

They are from the Terre Couture Collection. Here's a few more great ones:

Tiles from Exquisite Surfaces

Oh, and if you love Moroccan Tiles as much as I do, then you must stop by Inspired Design Daily and register to win a Happy Habitat Eco Throw-- the pattern is inspired by Moroccan Tile!

Redefine Home + Happy Habitat= GIVEAWAY!

The lovely Linsi from Redefine Home is GIVING AWAY a Happy Habitat Eco Throw. That's right folks, for FREE. Find out how to enter here and make sure you visit her shop too. She has the most amazing finds, not your everyday kind of stuff and I'm honored to have my Eco Throws in her store. Here's a few of my faves from Linsi's Shop:

 Oh--- and how could I forget...

All from Redefine Home

Happy Habitat Eco Throws: Recycled Cotton Blankets

I couldn't be more excited about my new Eco Throws. Soft, thick recycled cotton blankets perfectly sized for throwing over a chair or couch or for taking an afternoon snooze. Not too thin, not too heavy-- just right at 3.5 pounds. Graphic patterns are bold and add instant style. Or turn it over for a neutral look.

Recycled cotton does not mean it's made from old t-shirts from a thrift store (ewwww!) but instead from pre-consumer clippings. So those extra pieces get a new life instead of going to a landfill.

100% vegetarian. No animal used in these throws.

The Eco Throws come in 4 pattern and 4 colors: there's the Fretwork Throw which is inspired by Moroccan tiles, and Tribal Throw which is a simplified version of an ancient Arabic pattern, there's the Zigzag or Chevron Throw-- which is bold and graphic, and last is the Lattice Throw which is a square chain pattern.

The colors are Paprika, which is an orange that's a tad bit on the red side, Ochre is... well, Ochre- a deep saturated goldish yellow. The pictures don't do the Ochre justice, it's really a fantastic color and looks great with grey. Cerulean is a typical turquoise-- not too bright, no too light, not too dull. And Mushroom is a classic taupe. All patterns are paired with ivory... a slightly off-white.

Fretwork Eco Throw Blanket in Paprika

Tribal Eco Throw Blanket in Ochre

Zigzag Eco Throw Blanket in Cerulean

Lattice Eco Throw Blanket in Mushroom

Visit the SHOP to find out more.

More Moroccan Tiles

Funny how when I have something on my mind, it seems to pop up again and again. Kind of like how you hear someone's name that you haven't seen in a while, then you run into them. Anyway-- I just posted on Moroccan Tiles, and then I came across these beauties in House Beautiful. Stunning.

Tabarka Studio makes them. I love how they look aged and rustic. Here's more from their website:

photos

And some beautiful installations from Tabarka Studio:

Look closely at how these are pieced together, it's like a puzzle.

photos

Moroccan Tile Patterns

Moorish tile has got to be my number one inspiration for pattern. While traveling in southern Spain, I saw this tile everywhere. And when I say everywhere, I mean covering the outside of buildings, on the walls of basement bathrooms, and less glamourous places as well. The traditional colors are green, gold, red and blue as seen in this classic zellij pattern:

photo

These are a bit over the top, but so cool. 

photo

photo

 I had way too much fun on this site. So many options. 

I could realistically put these anywhere:

           

             

When talking about Moroccan Tiles, I cannot leave out the fabulous Popham Design. They have some killer designs in cement tiles. I couldn't get any pics of my favorites from their website, but they are to-die-for. You must check it out. And to get a little taste, here's a few shots from the creators of Popham Design's very own Marrakesh home. W-O-W. 

photo

photo

photo

I would love to go balls out and customize a back splash in something bright but have it tiled on to a double-sided board where you could flip it over and have neutral tile on the reverse side. So depending on your mood, your kitchen can be switched up. Also great for resale value in case future home buyers don't want crazy colors on a permanent fixture such as a back splash. Has anyone ever tried this? Do you think it could work? If not, here's a simple Moroccan tiled backslash that you could live with for a long time. 

photo

Can't get enough? I've got more images on Pinterest.